How to Travel and Get Paid for it

Make Money While Traveling the World

Are you thinking of adopting a lifestyle of long-term travel? At International Travel Insurance Group, we’ve worked with many clients who use our products as part of their strategy to travel the world. Some strive to become “location-independent” freelancers, while others focus on getting a job abroad that will provide the basis for a long-term stay in a specific country. The team here has a unique perspective when it comes to what works in international travel. We’ve compiled this list of seven top jobs that you can use as a springboard to a life of ongoing travel adventures. Take a look: You’re sure to find something here that will inspire you!

Seven Great Jobs for Getting Paid to Travel

Tour Guide: One of the easiest ways to get involved in a travel lifestyle is to gather plenty of knowledge about a favorite city and become a tour guide. Many countries have relatively simple rules about staying long-term if you wish to start a business, so it is not as hard as you might think to become a tour guide. Guides who speak more than one language are especially successful. While anyone can become a guide, you’ll need to be upbeat and energetic to deal with people, and you’ll need to be able to attract customers and organize tours to keep your income steady.

English Teacher: Thousands of recent college graduates go abroad to teach English each year. There are dozens of established programs that place grads in foreign classrooms, such as the JET Program, a joint venture backed by Japan’s Ministry of Education. Fluency in the host language is usually not required, as the native speaker of English is intended to communicate in English. Basic skills for dealing with a classroom of young pupils are needed. Pay tends to be low, but due to reduced costs of living, many people save significant amounts of money in this occupation.

International Aid Worker: There are many nonprofit organizations that welcome aid workers with specific skill sets, paying for their accommodations, meals, and basic medical needs in exchange for critical duties. This is a challenging route because many people who work in international aid are focused on unstable and potentially dangerous areas of the world. Standards of health care and even access to potable water may be low. Likewise, pay after expenses might be relatively scant. In some cases, nonprofits help their workers to get an advanced degree or reduce debt while working.

Nurse: Nurses are in such high demand that they deserve their section, although many aid workers are nurses. Those with a nursing degree who are willing to “go on point” in areas facing health crises can find themselves welcome across international borders. As in other aid occupations, living conditions can be harsh; however, the unique experiences one can enjoy can contribute to other opportunities in the future, such as advanced degrees or a long-term position at a hospital in another country. Pay varies by location, but second-language skills are often required.

Travel Blogger: Travel bloggers might have the biggest challenge when it comes to developing a following and a method of making money from what they do. However, once they have a devoted readership, the sky is the limit regarding their income and perks. Some bloggers travel the world, while others specialize in a specific region. Over time, bloggers can monetize their work by writing e-books, developing promotions alongside other companies, or consulting using their travel expertise. Basing themselves in countries with a low cost of living can help stretch a blogger’s budget.

Travel Agent: Travel agents have many of the skills of tour guides, but they go a step further. They develop complete itineraries for clients, including airfare, hotel, and activities. A travel agent who bases themselves in their country of specialization has some significant advantages, being able to partner with local businesses more easily and get the best deals for clients. They might even lead clients’ tours during their visit. Long-term expatriates and those with strong second-language skills are at a definite advantage here, and pay can range from modest to $200 or more per hour.

Interpreter/Translator: Do you have at least two years of college-level study or equivalent experience in a foreign language? By partnering with a company abroad, you could find yourself doing a fair amount of freelance translation work or interpreting. “Interpreting” is face-to-face or audio work, while “translation” refers to written documents. Standards for interpreting can be very high, but generally speaking, there are fewer requirements for becoming a freelance translator. Pay depends on fluency, the amount of work and, of course, standards of living in your host country.

If travel agrees with you, I think you’ll find that a lifestyle of ongoing travel is the most fun and exciting you can choose. You’ll get to enjoy plenty of adventure, all while meeting new people. You’ll have great stories to tell anyone you meet, and you’ll always be making plenty of great memories. On the other hand, many of these jobs come with some uncertainty about income, living conditions can vary widely between countries, long-term relationships may be challenging to maintain, and jet lag can be a serious factor if you move around frequently. Do your research and follow your passions: You just may be able to make it work for you.